Nail stake



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y 20, 1958 B. R. HOERR 2,835,017

NAIL STAKE Filed Sept. 2, 1950 INVENTORQ B URKHA R07 R. HOE/W? ATTORNEYS United States Patent NAIL STAKE Burkhardt R. Hoerr, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to C. & H.

pecialties Co., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of Caliorma Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 182,972

3 Claims. (Cl. 25118) This invention relates to an improved nail stake which has particular utility as a vertical supporting member for cement forms, screed forms, and the like.

The present invention, as exemplified in the particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings, comprises, generally, a post member, substantially circular in crosssection, formed with a plurality of apertures traversing radially through the post. The apertures are spaced longitudinally of the post and are arranged in such manner that the axes of adjacent apertures, measured in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the post, are disposed at an angle of not more than sixty degrees (60) from one another of the post into the earth.

In the erection of concrete forms, screed forms, or like structures, it is customary to drive relatively flat wooden stakes into the earth at spaced intervals to form upright supports to which the form walls are nailed or otherwise secured. It is well known, however, that wooden stakes are likely to split as they are being driven into hard earth or during nailing of the form material to them. Moreover, it is also common knowledge that it is often difficult to drive a relatively fiat stake (whether it be made of wood or other material) into hard earth without likelihood of the stake rotating in such manner as to throw the stake out of alignment whereby the fiat nailing surfaces of the stake are canted or inclined with respect to the form material subsequently to be nailed thereto.

A principal object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a nail or screed stake of novel construction which substantially avoids or minimizes the disadvantages above enumerated ordinarily attendant with the employment of more or less conventional form stakes to which reference has hereinabove been made. More particularly, a nail stake embodying the present invention comprises a substantially circular pointed post which presents an implement capable of being readily driven into the earth with a minimum of human effort. Moreover, because the radially disposed nail holes are arranged so as to present at least two nail hole openings for every sixty degrees (60) of circumference, it makes little difference how much or how little the stake rotates about its own axis when it is being driven into the ground. In short, the arrangement is such that there will always be available for use at least one nail hole having its axis displaced at no more than thirty degrees (30") from perpendicular to the form material. Thus, it never becomes necessary to drive nails into the form material at angles less than seventy degrees (70") with respect thereto.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the invention with portions thereof broken away.

7 degrees (60) with respect to one another.

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Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a concrete form erection showing the manner in which the present invention may be employed.

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section of a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of said modification.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, inclusive, the nail stake is shown as comprising an elongated post member 11, circular in cross-section, and having a pointed end 12 which is provided to facilitate driving of the stake into the ground. Preferably the upper end of the stake is formed with a slight bevel 13 around its top circumference to minimize burring thereof upon hammering the stake into the earth.

Post member 11 is formed with a plurality of nail holes or apertures, such as, for example, are designated by the reference characters 14 through 19, inclusive. The apertures are formed at spaced intervals longitudinally of the post member, and each aperture traverses radially through the stake. Moreover, the apertures are arranged in such manner that at least two nail hole openings are presented for every sixty degrees (60) of circumference. More specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the axes of adjacent apertures, measured in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the stake, are disposed at an angle of sixty Obviously the angular displacement between the axes of adjacent nail holes can be made considerably less than sixty degrees (60) if desired.

In operation a plurality of the nail stakes are driven into the earth (or are otherwise supported in upright positions) along the path on which the cement forms are to be erected. After the stakes have been properly located and positioned, boards or other form material, such as indicated at 21, are nailed or screwed to the stakes by driving nails or inserting screws through selectively chosen nail holes. It is believed evident that the nail holes selected for use in a particular instance are the ones which have their axes disposed as nearly perpendicular as possible to the form material being nailed. As has been heretofore indicated, so long as the angular displacement between any two apertures is sixty degrees (60) or less there will always be available for use a nail hole having its axis disposed at an angle of thirty degrees (30) or less from perpendicular to the plane of the form material. Thus, it never becomes necessary to drive a nail into the form material at less than a seventy degree (70) angle.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate how the post member may be formed polygonal in cross-section rather than in the nature of a perfect circle. More particularly, the embodiment illustrated in these particular figures comprises a substantially hexagonal configured post 22 formed with a plurality of transverse apertures, such as are designated by the reference characters 23 through 27, inclusive. Each aperture extends from one side of the post' to an opposite side thereof, and the arrangement is again such that nail opening is presented for at least every sixty degrees (60) of angular measurement about the perimeter of the post.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A nail stake comprising a solid metal post having at least three nail holes traversing through said post and spaced from one another longitudinally of said post, the

axes of said nail holes being disposed substantially normal' to the lengthwise axis of'said'post, the arrangement substantially circular in cross-section, a 21114311131 91; radially disposed nail holes formedthrongh said-'post' and spacedfrom one another longitudinally of s a ig1 'p os t,,v said nail holes beingarranged so that at least two nail hole openings are presented'for every sixty degrees (60?) of circumference of said post.

3'. A; nail stake comprising, a solid metal post member substantiallyv equiangular polygonal in cross secti'onhay ing at least six sides, a plurality, of nail holes formed' in said stakes, and spaced from one another longitudinally ma ma of said stake, each nail hole traversing through said post defining openings on opposite sides thereof, the arrangement of said nail holes beingisuch that at least two openings are presented for every sixty degrees (60) of angular measure about the periphery of said post.

References Cited inithetfile of this patent UNITED STATES A 354,950,, Tilton Y Dec. 28, 1886 670,144. Bond. q Mar, 19; 1901 1,471,909 Miller Oct. 23 1,923 1,550,276 Nelson Aug. 18, 1925 1,811,217 Spaugh June 23, 1931 15 2,296,217 Maloney Sept. 15, 1942 2,503,733 Heller Apr. 11, 1950 

